Machine for applying stoppers or sealing devices.



H. M. BROWN. MACHINE FOR APPLYING STOPPERS 0R SEALING DEVICES.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.19. 1909. 1,002,559. Patented Sept. 5,1911.

6 SHEETS-SHEET1 3 I if;

' 272%?7225)? Erry g wn,

H. M. BROWN.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING STOPPERS 0R SEALING DEVIGES.

APPLICATION FILED 0(7T.19. 1909.

Patented Sept. 5, 1911.

6 SHEETSSHBET 2.

H. M. BROWN.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING STOPPERS R SEALING DEVICES.

APPLICATION FILED 0GT.19.1909.

1,002,559. Patented se t. 5,1911.

SHEETS-SHEET 3 57 Z 1 r Z6 70 Z 3 23/ --33 H. M. BROWN.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING STOPPERS OR SEALING DEVICES.

APPLICATION FILED 00 T.19.19Q9,

"1,002,559. Patented S8111. 5, 911.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

I/1111mm H. M. BROWN. MACHINE EOE APPLYING STOPPBRS 0R SEALING DEVICES.

APPLICATION TILED OCT. 19, 1909. 1,002,559. Patented Sept. 5, 1911.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

HARRY -I. BROWN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO A'II'BER'I. GARFIELD, OI? 'ZBBOVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Sept. 5, 1911.

Application filed October 19, 1909. Serial No. 523,506.

.adapted, without readjustment to the purpose of applying stoppers, or sealing devices, to bottles of varying length.

A further object is to provide a machine of'the character indicated, which is adapted to operate in an improved manner in applying to bottles stoppers, or seals, of the character shown, for instance, in William S. Dormans Patent No. 881,780, granted March 10th, 1908. I The invention is illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 represents a side elevational view of my improved bottle-stoppering niachine; Fig. 2, a broken elevational view of the same, showing the position of the parts 1 during the stoppering operation; Fi' 3, a broken sectional view on an enlarge scale showing the upper portion of the machine 1 with the tool-head at the upper end of its I travel; Fig. 4, a similar section showing? the tool-head at the lower end of its travel; Fig. i5,a horizontal section taken as indii cated at line 5 of Fig. 3, and illustrating the means employed for gripping a shiftablea spring-bearing, or block, employed; Fig. -6, f a view showing, in detached relation, parts of the gripping-device shown in Fig. '5; Fig. 7, a sectional view illustrating a toolholder and a composite stoppering-tool employed, the parts being shown inthe normally inactive position; Fig. 8, a similar section showing the parts in the position g they assume during the stoppering operation; and Fig. 9, a view showing, in detached relation, the parts of the composite stoppering tool employed; Figs. 10 and 11, i plan and side elevational views of a stopper. which my improved machine is adapted to apply; and Fig. '12, a broken sectional view illustrating the application of such a stopper to a bottle.

It ma be stated preliminarily, that in the pre erred construction which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, there are employed an adjustable stationary bottle-support; a reciprocating tool-head; 'a bodily shift-able main-sprin located within said tool-head and confine between bearings which are vertically slidable inthe toolhead; means for gripping the upper main- Spring bearing during the descent of the tool-head; a tool-holder having a universal bearing in the lower main-spring bearing; a compoundstoppering-tool carried by sa1d holder; and a bottle centering and guiding device slidably connected with said toolholder.

In the form in which the invention is illustrated, A represents a frame provided with a standard'A B, 'a stationary bottlesupport adjustably connected to said frame; C, a vertically reciprocating-shaft to which motion is communicated "rom a pulley C the reciprocation of the shaft C bein controlled by a foot pedal C in any usua or desired manner; and D, a reciprocating tool-head in which'are mounted the stoppering-tool and attendant parts.

'Thema1n-frame A may be of any suitable construction as may also be the mechanism for communicating reciprocatory motion to the vertically disposed shaft (1, which carries the tool-head.

The bottle-support D may be of any desired construction. As shown, the bottlesupport is provided with a shank 1, which isvertically movable in a bearing 2, being ad'ustable by means of a screw 3. v

' he tool-head 1) comprises, a vertically disposed' tubular member 4, provided with a rearwardly extending bracket 5, which is firmly secured to the upper end of the shaft C, so that the tool-head will reciprocate with said shaft. Within the tubular memher 4 is a comparatively heavy main-spring 6 which is in the form of a coil spring. e sprin'g'is confined between an upper, or base bearing 7 and a lower bearing 8, the lower bearin' being equipped witha stem or shaft 9 which extends through the upperbearing 7-, and is equip ed above said upperbearing with nuts '10. ,y adjusting the nuts 10 any desired tension may be placed on the spring 6.

The main-springB and itsbearings7 and Bare slidable-within thetubular member '4.

The upper bearing 7 is encircled by a split collar 11 having rearwardlyprojecting'perforate lugs or ears 12,"whose"non-ad]acent surfaces are equipped (Fig. 6)" with cams bolt 18 extends through said sleeve, and is equipped with a nut 19, by means of which the cam-rings may be adjusted with 'relation to each other, so that provision "is' thus'inade for -causing the split ring 'or strap 11 to securely grlp the spring block 7. Keyed to the central portion of the sleeve 14 is. an actuating rock-arm 20, which is provided at its free extremity with a slot 21. Engaging said slot'is a stud 22 carried bya vertically disposedpost- 23 supported by a bracket 24 fitted on the upper end of the standard A.

'Said post 23 extends-through a guide perforation 25. in the bracket 5, said post 23 being located between the shaft C and the tubular member 4. Cast integrally with the upper portion of the member 4 is a housing '26 for the cams and attendant. parts, the upper portion being closed by a removable.

p ate 27.

The small post 23 is provided with a shoulder 28 which bears upon the upper surface of the bracket 24. Theshaft, or standard, 23 is secured agifihst'vertical withdrawal by means of a set-screw 29, as shown in Fi 1. The bracket 24 is secured on the top 0 the standard A by a set-screw 29*, and said bracket is provided with a guide tongue 29", which 1s received in a.

guide-groove 29 with which the tubularmember 4 of the reciprocating tool-head D is provided. As the tool-head descends in the operation of the machine, the stud 22 carried by the smallpost, or shaft, 23 causes the arm 20 to rotate, thereby actuating the sleeve or tubular-member 4 and causln'g the camrings 15 mounted thereon to contract the ring 11 and cause it to securely grip the spring-bearing 7.

The lower spring-bearing 8 normally rests upon an internal shoulder 30 with which the tubular-member 4 is equip ed near its lower end. The main-s ring an its bearings are normally main'tamed in their lowermost position by means of a relativel light spring 31 which is confined between t e bear- -mg 7 and a cap 32 which has screw connectionwith the upper end of the tubularmember 4. The s ring-31 will yield readily,-

however, to enab e the main-spring to shift its position bodilyto accommodate a bottle of greaterlengththan that for which the bottle-support B may happen to be adjusted.

. Thes lit-ring 11 has its upper end tapered. as in icated at 33 and is surmounted by a bearing-ring- 34 having a corres ondmg internal taper at its lower end, said aringunder all conditions.

ring 34 being secured in place by a flange 35 on 'thecap32. q

The bearings 7 and 8- are equipped with extensions 36 which serve to center the mainspring The upper surface of the bearing 7 7 is recessed to receive the lower end of the spring 31, and the'cap 32 is recessed to receive the upper end of said spring so that the spring 31 will remain properly centered Having a universal bearing against the lower surface of the main-sprin bearing 8 is a tubular tool-holder 37 in whic is carried a compound tool 38. The lower end of the tubular member 4 is enlarged, as indicated 8 at 39, and is fitted with an annular externally threaded nut 40 which afifords a bearing or' stop 41 for a-bottlecentering and stoppering device 42. The" device 42 com rises a tubular member whose shank is provid 43 which receives the lower end of the toolholder-37. A spring 44 normally maintains the device 42 in its seated position, said spring being confined between the shank of the member 42 and upper end of the holder 37. 9

The device 42 is equipped with an external flange 45 which ta ers at its lower side and bears in the tapered bearing 41. A space 46 is provided between the lower end of the member 42 and the internal surface of the nut 40, thus allowing universal movement to the stoppering-tool and bottle-centering and guiding device. The head 47 of the member 42 has a bore 48 into which the stopperingtool extends, and. the bore 48 o ens at a.

flaring mouth 49, which is recesse at 50 to accommodate the upper surface of the lip of the bottle. e

The tool-holder 37 has its upper end equipped with a head 51 which is provided with a rounded or part-spherical surface 52 which is received in a correspondingly grooved recess 53 with which the lower malnsprin bearing 8 is provided. The compoun tool 38 comprises (Figs 7, 8 and 9) a 13 central stopper engaging plunger 54, an encircling stopper engaging sleeve 55, and an external seal-securing sleeve 56. Thesleeve 56 is fixedly secured within the lower portion of the holder'37 in any desired manner. This lower end is rovided with vertical slits 57 which thus a 0rd resilient fingers, which are provided with o erative extremities 58 at their inner surfaces,

with vertical slits 60, which thus provide fingers with'o erative extremities 61 which curve outwar y at points beneath -the ends of the operative extremities 58 of the fingers on the sleeve 56. The arrangement of the 11 operative ends 61 of the fingers on the sleeve 55 is such as to provide a substantially annular bearing 62. The central plunger 54 tapers downward at its lower end, and the lower end surface of said plunger is pro- 15 ed with a bore 8 vided with a cavity or recess 63. As-thus described, the fingers of the tubular plungers and 56 are capable of yielding inwardly to contract the operative ends of the plungers in the operation of forcing the sealing-disk upon its seat in the mouth of the bottle. The resiliency of the finger tends to force the resilient retainer ring on the sealing-device into the annular internal groove with which theym'outh of the bottle is provided for the reception of said retainer rmg.

As shown in Figs, 7 and 8, the upper end.

of the sleeve 55 abuts against a plunger 64, which is pressed by aspring between the plunger and the upper end of the bore 66 of the holder 37 5 and the upper end of the inner plunger 54 is provided with a transverse slot or perforation 67, through which extends loosely a pin 68, whose ends project through perforations 69 in the sleeve 55. The extremities of the pin 68 are located above the upper end of the sleeve 56 and move within the space 70. between the upper end of said sleeve and an internal shoulder 71 with which the holder sleeve 37 is provided.

contains a spring 73, which bears against the upper end. of the central plunger 54. It will thus be understood that the central plunger 54 and the intermediafie sleeve 55 are cap-able of independent action with relation to each other and also with relation to the holder 37.

My improved machine is peculiarly adapted-to the purpose of compressing a; stopper of the character shown in Fi 10 and 11 upon itsseat in the neck of a bottle and locking the retaining ring on said stopper in the manner illustrated in Fig. 12. The stopper illustrated comprises a sealing-disk 74, which usually is of cork; a metal cap-piece 75 connectedtherewith,

and a retainer ring 76 connected with with an annular seat-portion 83. adapted to enter the annular groove 81 on the capand thereby center the retainer-ring with- The lower relation to the cap-piece 75. port-ion of the central plunger 54 is adapted to engage the tab 82 and center the retamer ring, while. the lower portionv of the inter- The lower end of the plunger 64 is provided with a'bore 72 which;

mediate tubular plunger 55 is adapted to engage the horizontal flange 78 of the retainer-ring and to compress the sealingdisk 74 on its seat. 84 in the mouth of the bottle 85. The outer tubular plunger 56 is adapted to force the retainer-ring through the contracted portion of'the mouth of the bottle and cause the retainer-ring to enter the internal annular groove 86 with which the bottle-mouth is provided From the description given, the operation of the machine will be readily understood. The bottle to be stoppered is placed upon the bottle-support B, the stopper being preliminarily seated in the upperportion of the bottle-mouth, either by hand, or by the operation of mechanism adapted for the purpose. The operator then depresses the foot-treadle C thereby. causing-the shaft C to reciprocate, As the shaft descends, it carries with it the tool-head -D and the mechanism therein contained; As the tool head descends, the lip of the bottle-neck is received in the flaring mouth 49 of the bottle centering-and guiding device 42, the lip ofthe bottle being guided to the recess 50. As the toolhead continues its descent, the spring 44 yields, permitting the device 42 to telescope with relation to the toolholder 37, the seat 41 of the member 42, being withdrawn from engagement with the flange45. As the stoppering-tool continues its downward movement through the member 42, the central plunger 54 of the compound tool engages the convex disk 82 and the stopper, the plunger 54 yielding as the spring 73 is compressed. Almost at the same instant, the operative end of the intermediate tubular plunger 55 engages the horizontal flange 78 of the retainer-ring, and, the tool-head continuing to descend, compressive force is applied to the sealingdisk, so that the latter is seated with sealing force upon its seat 84 in the bottle-neck. In this .operation the spring 65 yields, ac-

centers the retalner-ring 76 in relation to cording to necessity and, during the further descent of the tool-head the lower, or operative, end of the member 56 forces the retainer-ring to the locking'position in the internal groove 86 within the mouth of the bottle. Asindicated above, the fingers on the tool-sections 55 and 56 will yield to prevent breakage of the bottle, while their resiliency will at the same time aid in vforcing the retainer-ring to its locking position after the sealing-disk has beensufliciently compressed upon its seat to enable this locking action to occur. I

It is noteworthy that the tool-holder 37 is free to turn, as in a universal hearing, so that the bottlewill be properly centered and alined even though its position on the bottle-support B varies somewhat. It is to be notedalso that the'seal-compressing and seallocking force is transmitted through the main'-spring 6. As has been noted the springbearing 7 is movable within the reciprocating tool-head; and for the purpose of auto-. 'matically adjusting the tension upon the I main spring to suit the length of the bottle which is to be operated upon, the clamping I o'r'gri'p'ping device 11 is caused tooperate tainer-locking force will be transmitted through the spring 6. The gripping action is caused, as has been explained, by the rockarm 20 engaging the stud 22 during the descent of the tool-head, thereby causing the cam rings ,15 to contractthe split ring 11.

It is to be noted that the spring 31 yields to permit the bearing 7 to move upward freely prior to the clamping action, and after the release of the clam'pingiaction, the spring returns'the bearing 7 to its normal position. It may be added that the spring 6 may be depended upontofyield-to' a reater or less degree, and will thus in itsel tend to compensate for varying lengths-in the bottles; but any added compression of said spring causes the exertion of a greater compressive,

force upon the tool, and is to be avoided in the main. The bottle-holder B is, therefore, primarily set at the proper point to accommodate bottles varying within-certain limits. For instance, it is perfectly feasible to provide for a variation of say, one and one-half inches in the length of bottles Without readjustment of the support B, the automatic adjustment of the automatic tension of the main-spring being depended upon to prevent the transmission of undue force cure by'Letters Patent, is

through the main-spring.

In the illustration given, the tool-head reciprocates, while the adjustable bottle-support remains stationary. This is a matter which. can be varied according to conven ience, necessityjzpr des re, however.

'. The:}foregoing ,detailed. description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no undu'eflimitation should be understood therefrom but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible-in viewof-the prior art.

What I iregard as new, and desire to se- 1. In a machine of the-character set forth, the combination witha'bottle-support, tool head, and means for impart'ng relative recipro'cation thereto, of a stopper-applying bearings slidably mounted in said tooltool carried by said tool-head, a spring in said tool-head for exerting a pressure on said tool, a-movab1e spring-bearing above said spring, and means for securing said springbearing to said tool-head after limited movement of reciprocation in one direction has occurred.

2. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a bottle-support and tool- 'head mounted for relative reci rocation, means for reciptrocating said mem ers with relation to eac other, a stopper-applying tool, a main-spring therefor provided with a movable bearing, and means carried by said tool-head for clamping said bearing to the tool-head during the movement of reciprocation of the machine.

3. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination with a tool-head, of a tool therein, a pairof slidable main-spring bearings, one of which is a base-bearlng, a mainspring fitted between said bearings, means connecting said bearings and permitting movement of the same with relation to each other, and means for limiting the movement of the base bearing.

' 4. In a machine of the character set forth,

the combination of a tool-head, a pair of slidable main-s ring ibearings, a mainspring confined etween said bearings, an auxiliary spring for returning said mainspring to normal position, a stoppering-tool, means for reciprocating said toolhead, and means for limiting the movement 'of one of said bearings during the move-..

ment of reciprocation of said tool-head.

5. Ina machine of the character set forth,

. the combination of a support for the article to be stoppered, a reciprocating tool-head, a stoppermg-tool, a pair of slidable mainspring bearings, a main-spring confined between said bearings,aclamp1ng-ring encircling one of said bearings, and a cam-device adapted to contract said clamping-ring during the movement of reciprocation of said tool-head.

6. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a bottle-support, a reciprocating tool-head, a pair of main-spring bearings slidable therein, a main-spring confined between said bearings, a stopperingtool, a clampin -ring encircling one of sald bearings, a roc -sh aft equipped with cams serving to contract the clamping-ring, and

a stationary device serving to actuate saidrock-shaft during the descent of the toolhead.

7. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a frame having a standard, a vertically reciprocating shaft in said standard, a tubular tool-head carried b said shaft, a post carried by said standard in the rearofsaid tool-head, a pair of main-splrin ea a spring confined between said bearings, a:

clamping ring encircling one of said bearings and equipped with ears projecting through said tubular tool-head and provided with cams, and a rock-shaft equipped with cooperative cams and with an actuating arm adapted to be actuated through the medium of said post during the descent of said toolhead.

8. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination with a bottle-support, toolhead and means for imparting relative reciprocation thereto, of a main-spring equipped with a bearing, a tool-holder adapted to universal mbvement, and a pair of relatively movable stopper-engaging plungers carried by said tool-holder.

9. In a machine of the characterset forth, the combination with a bottle-support, toolhead, and means for imparting relative reciprocation thereto, of a main-spring equipped witha bearing, a. tool-holder adapted to universal movement, a pair of relatively movable stopper-engaging plungers carried by said tool-head, and a stopper centering and guiding-device having telescopic connection with said tool-holder.

10. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination with a bottle-support, tool-head, and .means for imparting relative reciprocation thereto, of a mainspring equipped with a bearing having a socket with a concave surface, a tool-holder having a convex surface bearing in said concave surface, a bottle guiding deyice having telescopic connect-ion with said holder, a spring confined between said holder and said bottle guiding device, and a compound stoppering-tool comprising relatively movable plungers carried by said holder.

11. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination with a bottle-support, tool-head, and means for imparting relative reciprocation to said members, of a main-spring equipped with a bearing, a tubular tool-holder having universal connection therewith, a tubular bottle-centering device provided with a seat'in the lower portion of said tool-head and having freedom of lateral movement when withdrawn from said seat, and a compound tool carried by said holder and comprising relatively movable plungers having their operative -ends depending from said holder.

12. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of atubular toolhead, a main-spring therein, a spring-bearing, a tool-holder having universal connection wlth said bearing, a bottle-centering and holding device having telescopic conmotion with said tool-holder, said device having a seat in the lower portion of said tubular tool-head and having freedom of movement with the tool-holder when withdrawn from said seat, and a compound tool comprising plungers movable with relation to each other and having operative ends depending from said holder.

13. A machine of the character set forth having a compound stoppering tool comprising a central plunger and a surrounding sleeve relatively movable with relation to each other and adapted to force a stopper on to its seat in the mouth of a bottle, and an external sleeve adapted to force the retainer-ring of the stopper into locking engagement with the retaining groove in the bottle-mouth.

14. A machine of the character set'forth having a compound stopperingtool comprising a central plunger, an external fingered sleeve, an intermediate fingered sleeve, and springs normally projecting said central plunger and said intermediate sleeve, in combination with a tubular holder for said parts.

15. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination with a tubular toolhead, of a main spring and bearing for said main-spring, a tubular holder mounted to swing with relation to said bearing, a bottle-- centering device having telescoplc connection with said tubular holder, a spring confined between said tubular holder and said bottle-centering device, a plunger within said tubular holder, a spring confined between said plunger and the end-wall of the bore in said tubular holder, a sleeve abutting against said last-named plunger, a central plunger in said sleeve mounted to move with relation to said sleeve, a spring confined between said central plunger and the first-named plunger in said tubular holder, and an external sleeve rigidly connected with said tubular holder.

HARRY M. BROWN. In presence of-.

. ROBERT L. SHRINER, 

